The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2012 is the 23rd exercise in the series that began in 1971.

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As nations around the Pacific Rim descend upon Hawaii for the start of the exercise, naval-technology.com, in partnership with airforce-technology.com, profile the naval aircraft and helicopters taking part in the exercise.

The biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, the world's largest international maritime exercise, is scheduled start on 29th June 2012, running to 3rd August. More than 200 aircraft from 22 separate nations are registered to participate.

RIMPAC 2012 is to be the 23rd such exercise since its inception in 1971, and will once again take place in the islands surrounding Hawaii. The key aim of the exercise is to increase interoperability between participating nations and boost cooperative relationships in the region.

As nations around the Pacific Rim descend upon Hawaii for the start of the exercise, naval-technology.com, in partnership with airforce-technology.com, profile the naval aircraft and helicopters taking part in the exercise.

For a full profile of the participating nations and a complete list of vessels set to feature in the exercise, please see our article RIMPAC 2012: participating vessels by country.RIMPAC 2012 helicopters

Sea Hawk naval helicopter

Seahawk multimission naval helicopter.

Perhaps outlining the growing popularity of the helicopter market for fulfilling operational capabilities at sea, RIMPAC 2012 boasts a burgeoning contingent of participant helicopters. Nine nations will send helicopters to participate in the exercise to some extent, with differing purposes. The large helicopter fleet flying within RIMPAC 2012 can be explained by a number of frigates capable of hosting such helicopters present within the exercise.

Mexico will send its Mi-17 Hip helicopter, usually used to fulfil drug interdiction missions, whereas similar helicopters will be sent by nations including Japan, Singapore, Chile and Canada. Chile's HH-65 Dolphin helicopter, usually used for Coast Guard patrols and operations, will participate in the exercise, whereas Singapore intends to field its S-70B Seahawk fleet, flown by pilots of the Republic of Singapore Air Force.

Anti-submarine warfare appears to be a trend at RIMPAC 2012, with a number of anti-submarine patrol or warfare helicopters present. Japan, bound by its peaceful Constitution, will field its SH-60J Seahawk, usually reserved for anti-submarine patrol missions, whereas South Korea intends to deploy its Super Lynx MK. 99. The two nations will be joined by the US, Australia and Canada in fielding more attack-minded helicopters, including S-70B-2 Seahawks, CH-124A Sea Kings, MH-60R/B/S Seahawks and MH-53 Pave Lows.

Of the US fleet of helicopters participating in the exercise, particular attention should be afforded to the MH-60R and MH-60S Seahawk variants that will form part of the US Navy's Great Green Fleet, to be powered with a blend of algal-based biofuel and jet fuel as a demonstration of the US Navy's efforts to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels.

Rather predictably given that the US is the only nation to field a carrier capable of hosting and launching such aircraft and so will be the only nation to field fighters, bombers or strike aircraft at this year's RIMPAC exercise.

Flying from the USS Nimitz at RIMPAC 2012 will be the only multirole fighter to be designated as a member of the US Navy's Great Green Fleet - the F/A-18 Hornet. The US Navy has achieved some success with Hornet aircraft and various blends of biofuel having successfully completed tests, making the aircraft a wise choice to demonstrate the progress made towards a more environmentally friendly and sustainable naval force.

The A-10 Thunderbolt II will also be present having gained a new lease of life earlier in 2012 after the US Air Force was forced to admit that its new F-35B cannot generate enough sorties to meet their needs. This has led the USAF to schedule for the A-10 to remain in service until at least 2028. Designed to provide close air support, the Thunderbolt is likely to play a part in a number of amphibious landing drills to involve South Korean Marine Corps units taking part in RIMPAC for the first time.

The A-10 and F/A-18 will be flanked by fellow attack aircraft the F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-15C Eagle, whereas the B-52 Stratofortress multirole bomber aircraft will also participate.

The surveillance aircraft to participate in RIMPAC 2012 may come from a variety of different nations, but one aircraft presides over all other in terms of its popularity. All five nations to deploy surveillance aircraft, including Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and the US, will be fielding a variant of the Lockheed-built P-3 Orion maritime patrol and anti-submarine aircraft.

The inclusion of P-3 Orion aircraft from Japan, South Korea and the US is most likely a direct response to the sinking of ROKS Cheonan, which occurred in March 2010 and was allegedly due to a torpedo launched from a North Korean Yeono class miniature submarine. Although the United Nations Security Council never officially identified the aggressor, an investigation conducted by experts from South Korea, the US, the UK, Canada, Australia and Sweden came to the conclusion that a North Korean submarine was responsible. With tensions within the Korean peninsula continuing to rise and showing no signs of abating under the rule of Kim Jong-un, submarine detection within the Yellow Sea has obviously been thrust to the front of attention.

The US Navy will field an E-2C Hawkeye aircraft within its Great Green Fleet, whereas a US Navy EA-6B Prowler, a P-8A Poseidon and an E-3B/C Sentry aircraft will also participate in the exercise.

With a number of aircraft due to take part in various exercises under the RIMPAC umbrella, support aircraft will be supplied by the US and Canada. Canada will deploy KC-150T Polaris and KC-130T Hercules refuelling aircraft, with the Polaris aircraft used as air-to-air refuelling tankers for the Canadian CF-18 Hornet fleet, also due to participate in the exercise.

The US will deploy its C-17 Globemaster III tactical transport aircraft, C-2A Greyhound carrier on-board delivery aircraft and its KC-135R Stratotanker refuelling aircraft to support its and other nation's aircraft throughout the exercise's duration.

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The biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise is the world's largest international maritime exercise. Running from 29th June to 3rd August 2012, 42 ships, six submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel from 22 separate nations are registered to participate.

Located in and around the Hawaiian Islands, RIMPAC 2012 is the 23rd such exercise after its inception in 1971. Whilst new and emerging technologies will be tested, the key aim of the exercise is to increase interoperability between participating nations and boost cooperative relationships in the region.

As nations around the Pacific Rim descend upon Hawaii for the start of the exercise, naval-technology.com profiles participating nations and compiles a complete list of vessels set to feature in the exercise.

For a full profile of the aircraft set to feature in the exercise, please see our article RIMPAC 2012: the aircraft and helicopters.Australia - Adelaide, Anzac and Collins Class

HMAS Perth FFH 157 Anzac Class friagate

HMAS Perth (FFH 157) Anzac Class frigate.

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) will be sending a total fleet of three vessels to participate in the exercise. Adelaide and Anzac Class frigates HMAS Darwin and HMAS Perth will be present, alongside the Collins Class submarine, HMAS Farncomb. Australia also looks set to participate alongside other nations in a series of mine-countermeasure (MCM) and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) drills, with MCM and EOD detachments representing the nation as well as an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV).

Mexico looks set to be represented by Newport-class Tank Landing Ship the ARM Usumacinta, formerly known as the USS Frederick during its service with the US Navy. An infantry platoon will also be fielded, participating alongside infantry from other nations in exercises.

ARM Usumacinta (A-412) - tank landing ship

South Korea - displaying amphibious landing capability

ROKs Choi Young DDH 981 Chungmugong Yi Sunshin Class destroyer

ROKS Choi Young (DDH 981) Chungmugong Yi Sunshin Class destroyer.

South Korea's participation in the exercise looks set to be the most contentious as the nation defies its northern counterparts' threats against such military exercises. The Republic of Korea Navy will dispatch two destroyers, the Sejong the Great class destroyer ROKS Yulgok Yi-I and the Chungmugong Yi Sunshin class destroyer ROKS Choi Young, as well as the Chang Bogo Class submarine ROKS Nae Dyong.

For the first time in RIMPAC history, a South Korean marine platoon will actively participate in exercises as the nation looks to hone its amphibious landing capabilities in what could be seen as a response to North Korea's bombardment of Yeonpyeong island in November 2010 that killed two civilians and two soldiers.

The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) will send an array of vessels to Hawaii. The Iroquois Class air defence destroyer HMCS Algonquin, the Halifax Class frigate HMCS Ottawa, the Victoria Class long-range patrol submarine HMCS Victoria and the Kingston Class coastal defence vessels HMCS Yellowknife, HMCS Saskatoon and HMCS Brandon will be present.

The Royal Canadian Navy will also be participating in EOD and MIW drills alongside other nations such as Australia, New Zealand, Chile and the US with the presence of RCN fleet diving unit and infantry company.

Three vessels will represent Japan during the exercise, the Kongo Class destroyer JS Myoko, the Shirane Class destroyer JS Shirane and the Uraga Class escort battle carrier JS Bungo. Japan will be hoping to avoid controversy after its participation in a sinking exercise last year, which involved six vessels firing at the 19,000t USS New Orleans. Legal experts criticised Japan's participation claiming the joint shelling of a common target could be construed as "collective defense", an act banned under Japan's constitution.

Russia will send vessels to participate in the exercise for the first time, underpinned by the presence of its Pacific Fleet unit, consisting of the Udaloy Class destroyer RFS Admiral Panteleyev, as well as the salvage tug RFS Fotiy Krylov and the tanker RFS Irkut. Official observers have represented the nation at previous exercises, but RIMPAC 2012 will be the first time vessels have participated. The fleet departed Vladivostok on 13 June 2012.

The Chilean Navy will be represented by the Type 23 frigate CS Almirante Lynch, formerly the HMS Grafton prior to its commissioning into the Chilean Navy in 2007. Chile will also be sending a mine warfare diving team working alongside the other nations.

CS Almirante Lynch (FF 07) - Type 23 frigate

France - only vessel from western Europe

FS Prairial F 731 Floreal Class frigate

FS Prairial (F 731) Floréal Class frigate.

France will be the only western European nation to send a vessel for RIMPAC 2012, with its sole deployment for the exercise will be the Floréal Class frigate FS Prairial. FS Prairial's participation in the exercise is likely to be considered key given its ability to operate within littoral waters. Other Western European nations will be participating but not sending vessels, with both Norway and the UK sending a Combined Task Force and component staff contribution and Netherlands sending a fleet diving unit.

FS Prairial (F 731) - Floréal Class frigate

New Zealand - Anzac Class and AUVs

HMNZS Te Kaha F 77 Anzac Class frigate

HMNZS Te Kaha (F 77) Anzac Class frigate.

New Zealand will, like Australia, deploy an Anzac class frigate, HMNZS Te Kaha, for the exercise, and that will be joined by fleet oiler HMNZS Endeavour. The nation is also sending a strong underwater contingent, joining the US, Canada and Australia in dispatching an operational diving team, a mine countermeasure team and an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV).

Singapore will be represented by the Formidable Class frigate RSS Formidable, a multi-mission derivative of the French Navy's La Fayette class frigates. Described as the "most advanced surface combatants in Southeast Asia", RSS Formidable's participation in RIMPAC 2012 follows up on RSS Supreme's deployment for RIMPAC 2010, where it participated in exercises within littoral waters.

RSS Formidable (68) - Formidable Class frigate

USA - submarines

USS North Carolina SSN 777 Virginia class submarine

USS North Carolina (SSN 777) Virginia class submarine.

The strong US contingent will be assisted by the presence of three submarines, most notably the Virginia Class attack submarine USS North Carolina, the fourth Virginia Class submarine to be commissioned by the US. The Virginia Class is the most advanced submarine at the US's disposal and comes at a price of approximately $2.4bn per unit.

The USS North Carolina will be joined by two Los Angeles class submarines, the USS Cheyenne and the USS Charlotte.

The USS Nimitz's participation in the exercise is most notable as the Nimitz Class aircraft carrier will head the Great Green Fleet, scheduled to be powered using biofuel blend as part of the nation's move towards a more environmentally friendly fleet. The US purchased 450,000 gallons of biofuel specifically for the exercise at a cost of $12m - the largest single order of biofuel to date.

The Wasp Class amphibious assault ship USS Essex will also participate in the exercise despite its recent collision with USNS Yukon, having previously pulled out of Cobra Gold 2012 citing mechanical issues.

A total of four Ticonderoga Class Aegis guided missile cruisers will represent the US Navy at RIMPAC 2012, with the USS Princeton having been named as a vessel within the Great Green Fleet. The USS Chosin, USS Lake Erie and USS Port Royal will also be participating in the exercise.

Five Arleigh Burke Class destroyers are scheduled to be active for RIMPAC 2012, representing the largest contingent of any one class at the exercise. Two of the destroyers, the USS Chafee and USS Chung Hoon, have been named as part of the Great Green Fleet, whereas the USS Paul Hamilton, USS Higgins and USS Stockdale have not.

Three Oliver Hazard Perry Class frigates have been named within the US Navy's RIMPAC 2012 fleet, although perhaps surprisingly not one has been named within the Great Green Fleet. The Oliver Hazard Perry Class frigate USS Ford achieved great success whilst running on biofuel in March 2012, sailing 12,000 miles on a 50-50 blend of algae-derived, hydro-processed algal oil and petroleum. The USS Crommelin, USS Gary and USS Reuben James will instead participate outside of the biofuel-driven fleet.

The US Navy's RIMPAC fleet will be supported by five support or replenishment ships with one, the Henry J. Kaiser Class oiler USNS Henry J. Kaiser chosen to support the Great Green Fleet and its biofuel demands. The second Henry J. Kaiser Class oiler, the USNS Yukon, will participate despite colliding with USS Essex in May 2012.

The Safeguard Class salvage ship USNS Salvor, the Lewis and Clark Class dry cargo ship USNS Matthew Perry and the Legend Class national security cutter USCGC Bertholf make up the rest of the US Navy's support and replenishment ships.

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More than 40 ships, six submarines and 200 aircraft are due to take part in the largest international maritime warfare exercise. As the world’s navies descend upon Hawaii for RIMPAC 2012, Liam Stoker analyses some key and emerging issues for this year’s exercise.

The Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) 2012, the world's largest international maritime warfare exercise, is scheduled to start on 29 June 2012. In all, 42 ships, six submarines, 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel from 22 different nations will descend upon Hawaii, US, in an attempt to bolster interoperability between the US Navy and allied forces located within the Pacific Rim.

RIMPAC 2004

US Marines disembark Amphibious Assault Vehicles during a mechanized raid in support of exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2004. Photo courtesy of US Navy

Not only is the exercise designed to increase stability in the region, but it also provides a key opportunity for participating naval forces to experiment with emerging technologies and concepts. Not only will the US Navy use RIMPAC 2012 to demonstrate its Great Green Fleet of biofuel-driven vessels, but it will also experiment with blue-laser communications technology which could revolutionise the development of submarines and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs).US Navy's biofuel powered 'Great Green Fleet'

Making its first appearance at RIMPAC is the US Navy's Great Green Fleet, made up of aircraft and vessels such as the F/A-18 Super Hornet, the USS Nimitz and the USS Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, USS Chafee, which are powered using a biofuel blend to demonstrate the US Navy's development of a more environmentally-friendly naval force. The initiative is tasked with deploying a fleet of warships powered by alternative fuels by 2016.Related projectNimitz Class Aircraft Carrier

The Nimitz Class aircraft carriers are the largest warships ever built. With over 6,000 personnel (crew and aircrew), the carrier has a displacement of 102,000t, and a flight deck length of 332.9m.

The US Defence Logistics Agency has purchased 450,000 gallons of biofuel to power the navy's carrier group during the exercise, representing the largest single purchase of biofuel in history at a cost of $12m. A mixture of algae-based fuel and fuel developed from used cooking oil and non-food-grade animal fats has been ordered from Dynamic Fuels and Solazyme, which will be combined in a 50/50 blend with petroleum-based diesel and aviation fuel.

The testing hopes to build on the success of the Oliver Hazard Perry-Class frigate USS Ford's 12,000 mile trip using a biofuel blend, which it completed in March 2012. US surface combatants and carrier-based aircraft will be used to "test, evaluate and demonstrate the cross-platform utility and functionality of biofuels", according to the US Navy.

The investment into biofuel research has not, however, been without controversy. The US Department of Defence has been met with a political backlash for what some politicians have labelled as a misdirection of resources, which should be diverted towards the acquisition of new vessels instead.

As questions continue over why the navy's ship budget has been slashed but investment into expensive biofuels has increased, Navy Energy Coordination Office director James Goudreau said: "Alternative fuels for the navy is not about being green, it's about combat ability."

Despite Goudreau's assertion, Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee have still attempted to ban the US Navy from producing or buying any alternative fuels which cost more than traditional fossil fuels.Submarine-friendly blue laser communications

USS Virginia

Submarines such as the USS Virginia could benefit greatly from the development of blue-laser communication systems. US Navy photo by Journalist 2nd Class Christina M. Shaw.

Another area which has captured the US Navy's attention is the advancement of blue-laser communications technologies, which will be field tested during RIMPAC 2012.Related projectNSSN Virginia Class Attack Submarine

Should testing prove to be successful, the technology could not only enhance communications between submarines and assets above the surface, but also make the use of ROVs more feasible.

The current standard of communications relies upon radio waves, which cannot penetrate through sea water. This has led to submarines requiring the use of towed buoys or trailing wires to communicate with warships or aircraft effectively. Blue / green laser wavelengths are, however, capable of penetrating sea water effectively and have been eyed as a potential communication medium for some time.

The stumbling block which has prevented previous use aboard submarines has been the laser transmitter. It is a required component for the system, but usually either a Raman shifted XeCI examiner laser or a frequency-doubled Ti Sapphire source is considered too bulky, inefficient and impractical for installation aboard modern submarines, where space is at a premium and demands are high.

This prompted DARPA to award a $32m contract in September 2010 to develop a blue-laser system under the Tactical Relay Information Network (TRITON) programme, with a live evaluation of the system scheduled to take place during RIMPAC 2012.

A Broad Agency Announcement from DARPA signalled RIMPAC as a key event during the system's development, adding: "By programme completion, DARPA and the navy are expecting a clear demonstration of the maturity of key laser technology components and its performance as a future operational system."

QinetiQ's North American subsidiary secured the contract having already started development of a blue-laser communication system dubbed the Submarine-Enabling Airborne Data Exchange and Enhancement Program (SEADEEP).

At the time of the contract award, QinetiQ confirmed that its SEADEEP system had already demonstrated "communications through the air-water interface equivalent to data rates available with wideband Internet communications at home", equivalent to being hundreds of times faster than conventional submarine communications at operational depths.Addressing increasing instability on the Korean Peninsula

ROKS Cheonan

South Korean and US Navy admirals inspecting the wreckage of the Cheonan at Pyeongtaek on 13 September 2010. US Navy photo by Lt. Jared Apollo Burgamy.

Aside from the operational testing of emerging technologies, RIMPAC 2012 will also see participating nations conduct a number of drills and exercises designed specifically to increase interoperability.Related projectSejong the Great Class Destroyer

The Sejong the Great Class guided missile destroyers are being developed under the Korean Destroyer eXperimental (KDX) programme of the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN).

South Korea will be hoping that its contingent of the ROKS Yulgok Yi-I and Choi Young destroyers, the Chang Bogo-Class submarine, a P-3C surveillance plane and a Lynx anti-submarine helicopter will help establish itself as a key participant in the exercise amid a backdrop of escalating tensions in the Korean Peninsula.

March 2010 saw the sinking of ROKS Cheonan and the deaths of 46 South Korean sailors. Suspected to be the result of an attack from a North Korean submarine, tensions in the region mounted as the US condemned the attack without explicitly naming North Korea as the perpetrator. This was followed by the North Korean shelling of Yeonpyeong Island in November 2010, killing two civilians and two soldiers.

Former UN ambassador Bill Richardson said after the bombardment of Yeonpyeong that tensions had become "the most serious crisis on the Korean Peninsula since the 1943 armistice which ended the Korean War."

Escalating tensions, enhanced by Kim Jong-Il's death and North Korea's recent failed satellite launch, have resulted in a degree of uncertainty in the Yellow Sea region and Korean Peninsula, but the US will hope to alleviate fears with South Korea's participation in the exercise.

Although South Korea has been a repeat participant in the exercise since 1990, RIMPAC 2012 will see the first demonstration of a South Korean marine platoon in order to boost amphibious landing operational capabilities, in what could be seen as a direct response to the bombardment of Yeonpyeong.